Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
The forecast for this week includes mentions of snow nearly every day and temperatures ranging from highs in the upper 30s to lows eventually pushing single digits. That said, the forecasts seem to change on nearly an hourly basis! It appears, for this week anyway, it might be a good idea to keep at hand a mix of clothing types to cover a wide range of variable weather conditions!
“Some ice anglers were bound and determined to get on the ‘ice’ last week,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “If any ice remained, it was not that thick and the only encouragement they heard from me was to be extremely careful!
“El Nino is doing its best to keep winter away and area golf courses, if open, could have made some money last week. Some of us have played golf under much worse conditions! The weather was great for a walk or to see “The Lure of Lights,” but it is not what we need right now.
Bob at Hayward Bait says cooler temperatures in the forecast for this week raise hopes for some substantial ice.
“Some anglers have targeted walleye and panfish from shore. Late season bow hunters have until January 3 to fill their tags.”
This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses how anglers choose the lakes they want to fish.
“Researchers in Minnesota conducted a large survey to determine the most important reasons walleye anglers choose to fish a particular lake. Not surprisingly, walleye abundance and overall size were big reasons, with distance from home also a big factor. Harvest-oriented anglers saw high bag limits positively and slot limits negatively.
“The researchers conclude there is a trade-off anglers have to make between wanting to fish close to home and wanting high bag limits and fishing quality.”
Continued mild weather last week really weakened the ice cover, says, DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt.
“Most rivers and streams lost all ice cover and now have moderate to high flow levels; open water areas redeveloped along many shorelines and inlet/outlet areas on the lakes. Consider all waters as unsafe for any kind of ice travel.
“The majority of early-season anglers who had been out trying their luck have backed off and are now waiting for cold temperatures to re-establish a solid 3-4 inches of ice.
“This week’s words of advice: Better safe than sorry!”
The Natural Resources Board (NRB) has approved an emergency rule governing Lake Superior lake trout harvest. The DNR-designed rule includes a daily bag limit of three lake trout in key recreational areas to preserve sustainable lake trout harvest, and addresses both commercial and recreational harvest limits. Before taking effect, the rule must go to Governor Walker for review and approval. The new rule separates lake trout from other trout species, allowing sport anglers to harvest five trout in addition to their lake trout bag. Recreational lake trout season runs through Sept. 30, 2016.
Hunters can submit reports to the DNR’s Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey until the end of all deer seasons. Hunters submit a report of what they saw during their time in the field and wildlife managers use the data to improve population estimates for the state’s deer herd and other wildlife species.
The DNR makes first-time license buyer discounts available for certain resident hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses for as little as $5 for those who have never purchased that specific license or have not purchased it in the past 10 years. The DNR also discounts certain non-resident licenses for first-time buyers. For more information, contact authorized license agents, DNR service centers, the Online Licensing Center, or call (877) 945-4236.
Beginning this year, all snowmobiles (with some exceptions) operating on a Wisconsin snowmobile trail or corridor must display a valid snowmobile trail pass whether registered in Wisconsin or another state. The fee is dependent upon whether the snowmobile has Wisconsin registration and whether the snowmobile owner is a member of a snowmobile club and Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC). The trail pass fee is $30 for a snowmobile registered in Wisconsin; the fee is $10 for a snowmobile registered in Wisconsin and owned by a person who is a member of both a snowmobile club and the AWSC. The nonresident snowmobile trail pass is $50 for a snowmobile registered in or in the process of registering in another state, province, or country. Visit www.awsc.org for information on the discounted club member trail passes.
Tickets for Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin's fundraising gun raffle for a Savage bolt-action rifle with scope are available at Hayward Bait in Hayward and AAA Sports in Spooner. The tickets cost $5/each or 3/$10 and the drawing is December 24. For more information, visit www.wfnw.net or call (715) 462-3559 or 634-5650.
People interested in cutting their own Christmas trees can obtain DNR permits to cut trees from northern state forests. The fee is typically $5 per tree, with permits available from the property headquarters. There are rules governing the cutting, so be aware of them before heading to the forest. Many county forests also allow non-commercial Christmas tree harvest.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 16: Canada goose seasons closes in North Zone.
Dec. 25: Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 1 season closes.
Dec. 26: Bobcat hunting/trapping Period 2 opens (see regs).
Dec. 31: Seasons close: Pheasant; Extended fall turkey zones 1-5; Hungarian partridge; Fisher trapping; Frog.
Jan. 3: Late archery deer season closes.
Jan. 16-17: Free Fishing Weekend. Residents and nonresidents.
Jan. 16: Elk Country ATV Club’s 8th annual ice fishing contest on Upper Clam Lake.
Jan. 24: Winter crow season opens.
Jan. 31: Seasons close: Ruffed grouse (Northern Zone); Bobcat hunting/trapping (Period 2); Squirrel.
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau and Sawyer County Record co-sponsor this report. For more information on area events and activities, visit the HLVCB’s Calendar of Events or call 800-724-2992.